Jeffrey Osborne, Toni Braxton lead 2018 Upcoming Album Releases

(January 2, 2018) 2017 is gone. Long live 2018, right? Soul music had a great year last year, with a combination of releases by old and new artists that made us take notice. But with the arrival of the new year comes the obvious question: What’s next?

Well, we have the answer. We’ve compiled a list of upcoming releases from some of our favorite artists, and we’re excited to share it with SoulTrackers. The good news is that it already looks like this is going to be a year to remember.

So take a look through the SoulTracks time machine, as we look forward to another year of music.

Classic Soul Favorites

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(January 2, 2018) 2017 is gone. Long live 2018, right? Soul music had a great year last year, with a combination of releases by old and new artists that made us take notice. But with the arrival of the new year comes the obvious question: What’s next?

Well, we have the answer. We’ve compiled a list of upcoming releases from some of our favorite artists, and we’re excited to share it with SoulTrackers. The good news is that it already looks like this is going to be a year to remember.

So take a look through the SoulTracks time machine, as we look forward to another year of music.

Classic Soul Favorites

It is always fun for us to hear new music from artists who have been bringing us joy for years. And the new year will bring a few of them back for their first releases in awhile. Leading off the pack is classic soul man Jeffrey Osborne, who will issue Worth It All in the Spring on the Mack Avenue label, followed closely by new labelmate Tower of Power, coming June 1 with a brand new one, and Candi Staton later in the Summer.

But first things first: In February, Toni Braxton releases her first solo album in eight years, with Sex & Cigarettes, and if the lead single, “Deadwood,” is any indication, it will be a winner. Also the women from En Vogue return in March with Electric Café, Chrisette Michele brings us Out of Control in April, and N’Dambi will be back after nearly a decade with Dream Junkie. Finally, Justin Timberlake just announced that his new album, Man of the Woods, will appear on Feb. 2.

The Jazzy Side of Soul

SoulTrackers definitely enjoy artists who straddle the line between soul and jazz, and 2018 brings a bunch of them with new music. Marion Meadows takes us to Soul City on January 26, with vocal help from Peabo Bryson, Maysa, Will Downing and more. We will also get the much awaited new disc from Billboard Jazz Artist of the Year Lindsey Webster and a welcome return of cool singer Michael Franks.

”Time and Tide” singer Basia arrives again after a long absence, while uber-talented singer and drummer Jamison Ross comes for more with his sophomore set, All For One, on January 26, followed by releases from Cecil Parker, Under the Lake, Tinkr, Euge Groove and Peter White

Indie Soul Heaven

It has been way too long since we’ve heard music from the hardest working woman in music, Sy Smith, but the independent soul singer returns in February with Sometimes a Rose Will Grow in Concrete. She’ll be joined by SoulTracks Award winner Darien Dean (Detours), ABIAH (a tribute to Nina Simone), Chi-town's chanteuse Terisa Griffin capturing a live performance,and popular indie soul acts Joe Leavy, James Hunter, Tracy Cruz, Teri Tobin, Raymond Barton, Ascendant, Marc Evans, homemadesoul, Donnell Isaac, Cleveland P. Jones, Morris Mills, Eric Valentine, John Reid, Kelonte Gavin and Modern Groove Assembly.

It all amounts to a great start to 2018. We’ll be keeping you up to date on these as we get closer, and we hope you’ll take the ride with us!